Garry Gilliam #79 of the Seattle Seahawks blocks during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium December 6, 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Garry Gilliam #79 of the Seattle Seahawks blocks during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium December 6, 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Photo: Tom Dahlin, Getty Images

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KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 13: Offensive tackle Bradley Sowell #78 of the Seattle Seahawks gets set on the line against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half on August 13, 2016 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 13: Offensive tackle Bradley Sowell #78 of the Seattle Seahawks gets set on the line against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half on August 13, 2016 at Arrowhead Stadium in

J.D. McKissic of the Atlanta Falcons stretches prior to the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on August 25, 2016 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Dolphins defeated the Falcons 17-6. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

J.D. McKissic of the Atlanta Falcons stretches prior to the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on August 25, 2016 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Dolphins defeated the Falcons 17-6.

Running back Terrence Magee of the Seattle Seahawks looks on prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on September 25, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Running back Terrence Magee of the Seattle Seahawks looks on prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on September 25, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty

RENTON -- By week 16 of the NFL season, you'd think most contenders would shy away from making changes in their starting lineups. But the Seattle Seahawks aren't most contenders.

After putting together uneven offensive performances for much of the season, the Seahawks (9-4-1) will reinsert third-year pro Garry Gilliam at the team's starting right tackle when they take on the Arizona Cardinals (5-8-1) Sunday in Seattle's home regular-season finale.

The 26-year-old Gilliam, a former undrafted free agent, started the team's first 11 games at right tackle this season after starting 18 regular-season and playoff games at the same spot in 2015. He was replaced by Bradley Sowell after just one series in Seattle's Week 12 loss at Tampa Bay, then spent the next two games on the Seahawks inactives list before dressing in last week's win over Los Angeles.

Gilliam replaced Sowell late in Seattle's 24-3 victory over the Rams, and will start Sunday versus Arizona as the team tries to establish some offensive consistency before starting their postseason run. Cable was quick to point out, however, that even though the regular season is drawing to a close, the competition for the starting spot isn't over.

"You'd like to be more settled than that, but unfortunately it's not working out that way for us," Cable said Tuesday. "We're getting a bunch of guys playing and involved, and I think that bodes well moving forward."

On Wednesday Gilliam told reporters he knew he needed to be more physical at the right tackle spot, which has traditionally been helmed by a road-grading run-blocker type. To do that, Gilliam said he needed to stop thinking so much on the field and just react.

He said he tried his best to use the benching as an opportunity to gain some perspective.

"For me it was just a matter of reevaluating, kind of stepping back," he said. "Like OK, what's going on here? What's really going on? Get out of your own way, Garry. Why are they doing this? So it wasn't a matter of being angry, because then you can kind of fog your mind. It was just more step back and get some clarity on what's going on in the situation."

Both Cable and head coach Pete Carroll praised the way Gilliam worked to get back into the lineup after the demotion.

"He handled it very professionally during the couple weeks, he worked hard in practice in the role that he was in and he worked hard to battle back," Carroll said Thursday. "He deserves the opportunity to show what he can do again. That's what the competition is all about."

Seahawks add running backs McKissic, Magee

Seattle added two bodies to their backfield this week with the additions of running backs J.D. McKissic and Terrence Magee.

McKissic, 23, was claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Tuesday. The 5-foot-10, 187-pounder spent most of the season on the Falcons practice squad after joining them as an undrafted free agent in May. The former Arkansas State star played wide receiver for Atlanta, but the Seahawks like the potential versatility he could provide out of the backfield.

"He's a really special athlete," Carroll said. "He can do a lot of stuff. Kick return, he scored in the preseason, he's got a great catching range, he has fantastic hands. He has a really special quickness and we're looking to see what we can do with him in a unique way."

Magee, 23, was signed off the Browns practice squad on Tuesday. A second-year pro out of LSU, Magee spent time with the Seahawks earlier this season, rushing the ball three times for 12 yards in Seattle's Week 3 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

"We've liked him in the past, a very aggressive football player," Carroll said. "Good special teams guy, too. Good all around guy."

Magee spent most of his rookie season on and off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and spent the offseason with the Los Angeles Rams.